Satyavati Devi (born 1905)
| Satyavati Devi | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 1905 |
| Died |
26 October 2010 (105 years) Delhi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Participation in Indian independence movement |
| Spouse(s) | Lala Achint Ram (died 1961) |
Satyavati Devi (February 1905 – 26 October 2010) was an Indian freedom fighter and Gandhian. At the time of her death on 26 October 2010, she was India's oldest freedom fighter.[1]
She did her schooling from Kanya Maha Vidyalay, Jalandhar. She married Lala Achint Ram in 1925. Her marriage was a dowry-less one and she wore no veil, which was the condition set by Achint Ram for marriage.[1] She was popularly known as Bijji or Mataji. She was the mother of India's former Vice President, Krishan Kant.[2] She also had two daughters Nirmala and Subhadra.
On 26 August 1942 she was arrested along with her children for participation in the Indian freedom movement. Along with other women prisoners she hoisted the Indian tricolour in Lahore Jail where she was imprisoned by the Britishers.[2][3] In prison she protested against the condition of barracks of political prisoners and went on a satyagraha.[1] Post India's independence, she took an active part in Vinoba Bhave's bhoodan movement along with her husband Lala Achint Ram who was popularly called "Gandhi of Punjab". He had been member of Lok Sabha twice. They both urged the landowners to give their land to landless laborers. The revolutionary leader Chandrashekhar Azad stayed at her home for three days[3] before his escape to Lahore. She had often fed the patriot Bhagat Singh with her own hands.[1] Her daughter Subhadra, when arrested was only 13 years old and was the youngest freedom fighter to be arrested.[4] In 1965, she donated all her jewels to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "India's oldest freedom fighter dies at 105". Times of India. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bajpayee, Nitika. "A patriot Speaks". harmonyindia.org. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chowdhury, Neerja (1 March 2005). "India's oldest freedom fighter turns 100". gulfnews.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ↑ "Oldest freedom fighter recalls memories of struggle". New Delhi: ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.